Quarantine, for all the good it has brought Beijing and its residents has been a personal hell for many of us. Between having to work from home and doing away with our social coping mechanisms, a time that one would have thought to be perfect for self-reflection has turned into an all-out cabin fever epidemic, and we are all in desperate need of stimulation, or at the very least, some entertainment.
Talking to some in the expat community about how they manage to keep their wits about them at this trying time, many happily admitted to binging on shows they hadn’t watched or were re-watching marathon-style, while more opted for the audio route, focusing their attention on podcasts.
But finding Beijing or even China-specific podcasts to enjoy can be a challenge since not all of them come explicitly labeled as ‘The podcast for Expats in China!’ If only it were that easy.
Not to worry. Here are a few top choices for Beijing expats that come highly recommended and are guaranteed to provide some much-needed entertainment, while teaching their listeners a thing or two about the many facets of life and current affairs in Beijing and the rest of China.
The Little Red Podcast
Boasting a banner depicting an homage to the Chinese worker, flanked by a vibrant red and yellow background, this podcast covers a wide range of topics affecting China, from the phenomenon of China’s ‘Little Emperors’ to the more recent outbreak of COVID-19. It also boasts a heavyweight line-up of hosts, namely Graeme Smith, a China studies academic at the Australian National University’s department of Pacific Affairs. With him is Louisa Lim, a former China correspondent for the BBC and NPR, and is currently at the Center for Advancing Journalism at Melbourne University.
Saying it is an award winning podcast is not overstatement, as The Little Red Podcast won the 2018 award for Podcast of the Year at the Australian Podcast Awards, under the category of News and Current Affairs. If you are looking to get a fresh perspective on matters Beijing and China, then this might be the podcast for you.
Tech Buzz China by Pandaily
If you’re interested in finding out the latest technological happenings in China, then you might want to check out Tech Buzz China. Hosts Ying-Ying Lu and Rui Ma – described as experienced China-Watchers with years of experience working in the tech world – cover topics ranging from the rise of social commerce to singles day, and how the latest outbreak of COVID-19 is bound to affect tech in the People’s Republic.
You don’t have to worry about waiting for long periods of time between episodes, as the podcast releases two episodes on a weekly basis. Complete with commentary from investors, industry experts and entrepreneurs, it’s a techies podcast dream come true.
Date Night China
So you might already be happily married and not playing the field anymore. That is no reason to deprive yourself of the tasty tidbits of dating presented by three Beijing-based experts as they wade through the world of singlehood. Hosts Nathan, Rachel and Eleanor offer hilarious commentary while providing foolproof tips on avoiding disasters while dating in China. Even if it might not be for you, you might find a little something to spice up your own relationship or even something worth passing on to a single friend.
How China Works
Are you new to Beijing and struggle to understand why things this side of the world are the way they are?
You might have reached the ‘up is down here’ moment that hits most expats on their first encounter with China. Alternatively, you could have been here long enough to know just how things work and reconcile them with what you are used to back home, but can’t quite coherently put into words where the similarities or differences lay. If any of the above sentiments apply, then this is a podcast for you.
This daily podcast hosted by YingYing Li and Brendan Davis attempts to turn its listeners ‘China Smart’ by providing a hybrid East-West perspective on all matters China, while trying to find a common ground for what sometimes seems like a massive cultural schism.
Sinica Podcast
If you are looking for something more serious in the way of current affairs and want to hear China-related opinions from journalists, writers, academics, policymakers, business people and other stakeholders, then this is the podcast for you. Once a week, hosts Kaiser Kuo and Jeremy Goldkorn delve into how China continues reshaping the world. With titles such as ‘China policy and the American presidency’ and ‘Philanthropy in China’, there are bound to be episodes that promise to spark conversations and opinions well beyond the sound studio.
Photos: Apple Podcasts, Pixabay
